8135: Colored Chick Flick.

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

‘Colored Girls’ bringing black women together
Movie’s message of perseverance through adversity a winner

By Maudlyne Ihejirika, Staff Reporter

For many African-American women across the country, the new movie, “For Colored Girls [Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf],” based on Ntozake Shange’s soul-searing 1975 play, has become a cultural phenomenon even before its official release.

Women in Chicago and other cities have gone as far as to rent out theaters to watch the movie together—and to celebrate its timeless message of perseverance over struggle.

“There’s just a lot of interest by women’s groups surrounding this movie, as there should be,” said Gene Hobbs, manager of the ShowPlace ICON theaters, 150 W. Roosevelt. A theater within ICON was bought out by a group Friday, and another group showing is scheduled for Sunday. “It’s a very powerful and intriguing film.”

Director/Writer Tyler Perry has brought to the screen the acclaimed black poet/playwright’s 20-part “choreopoem” expounding on the struggles and strengths of women of color, captured by Shange’s line that “Bein’ alive and bein’ a woman and bein’ colored is a metaphysical dilemma I haven’t conquered yet.”

First produced in 1975, the Broadway play tackled rape, abortion, domestic abuse, promiscuity, closeted gay men married to women and self-love. When published as a book in 1977, reading it became a rite of passage for black girls everywhere.

“I read it in high school, and again in college, and appreciate it even more now than then, because I’ve gone through some of those experiences,” said Alicia Wright, 30, of A’Vents by August, which rented one screen at ICE Theaters Chatham 14 for the film’s Thursday midnight opening.

Wright’s event drew some 300 professional women to hear presentations from suicide and domestic violence groups and to watch and discuss the movie.

The movie’s human rights themes—conveyed by an all-star cast including Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad and Kerry Washington—are as relevant today as they were in the past, the women’s groups say.

Many groups, including Panache3 Productions, which hosted a sold-out event for 400 people at ShowPlace ICON Friday night, use the movie to raise funds for groups dealing with its social issues.

“Part of the proceeds are going to Family Rescue, an organization that combats domestic violence, and we’ve gotten people to sponsor some of the women at their shelter to come see the movie,” said Traci Stanford, a Panache3 partner.

For many of the women attending Friday, the movie, like the book, struck a chord.

“I both saw the play in the ‘70s and read the book, and it is ground-breaking in its depiction of the struggles of not only black women but women in general,” said Esther Johnson, 61, of Chatham, who came with three generations of family members. … “The movie, too, was intense and succeeded in carrying the original message that you can overcome any obstacle and love yourself.”